Ground contact putter

ABSTRACT

A ground-contact putter and method of use are disclosed wherein a substantially cylindrical putter head is rested on the putting surface and pushed by the putter shaft forwardly across the putting surface to strike a golf ball toward a cup. The putter head is oriented so that the longitudinal axis through the putter head is perpendicular to the ball-strike direction. The putter handle is preferably attached to the putter head at a rearward angle of at least about 10 degrees from perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis through the putter head. The putter head can optionally comprise a core, ground-contact surface and ball-strike surface made of different materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention generally relates to golf clubs and more particularly relates to a putter specially adapted to make continuous contact with the ground during use.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Many different shapes and styles of putters are well known to persons familiar with the game of golf. All putters embody a head and a shaft. One end of the shaft is attached or connected to the head and the other end comprises a handgrip that is graspable by the user. The head typically comprises a ball-striking surface that is intended to contact a golf ball during the putting motion.

[0005] During use, conventional putters are supported by the hands of the player so that the sole of the putter is slightly above ground level and a little behind the ball. The player typically stands facing the ball, with his or her feet slightly apart and generally transverse to the direction in which the ball will travel when struck by the putter head. After observing or “reading” the topography of the green or other putting surface between the ball and the cup, the player causes the putter head to strike the ball, hopefully with appropriate force and in a direction such that the ball will roll smoothly across the ground and into the cup.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Unlike conventional putters, a putter is disclosed herein that is designed to maintain continuous contact with the ground throughout the putting stroke. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a putter is provided that comprises a shaft and a putting head. The putting head is preferably cylindrical, having a core, a substantially cylindrical sidewall disposed around the core, and two ends. The cylindrical sidewall further comprises a ground contact portion and a ball striking portion. The core of the head can be solid or hollow, and the ground contact portion and the ball striking portion can be made of the same or different materials. The shaft preferably has a handgrip at one end; the other end is preferably attached to the head at approximately the midpoint of the cylindrical sidewall, and the major longitudinal axis through the shaft preferably deviates slightly rearward from perpendicular to the longitudinal axis through the head.

[0007] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the major longitudinal axis through the shaft is preferably perpendicular to the surface of the cylindrical putter head and, when extended, intersects the central longitudinal axis through the putter head at an angle of 90°. According to one alternative embodiment of the invention, the shaft axis, when extended, will intersect a perpendicular axis through the center of the putter head at the sole of the putter head. According to another embodiment of the invention, the shaft axis, when extended, will intersect a perpendicular axis through the center of the putter head at a point disposed above the center of the putter head.

[0008] Under USGA Rules (Appendix II), when the subject putter is in the normal address position, the projection of the straight part of the shaft on to the vertical plane through the toe and heel of the putter will preferably diverge from the vertical by at least 10 degrees, and the projection of the straight part of the shaft on to the vertical plane along the intended line of play will preferably not diverge from the vertical by more than 20 degrees. Because the putter shaft is slanting to the rear rather than to the side of the putter face, a player using the putter disclosed herein will also have the advantage of being able to sight along the shaft of the putter when lining up a putt. The diameter and construction of the cylindrical head are preferably such that the center of gravity of the putter head is at an elevation about {fraction (1/8)} inch above the elevation of the center of gravity of the ball.

[0009] According to another embodiment, which is not preferred but is still believed to be within the scope of the invention, the subject putter does not have a completely cylindrical sidewall but instead has similarly convex, arcuate ground-contact and ball-strike surface sections connected by at least one other surface section having an external configuration that is not cylindrical and may, for example, be linear, concave, or convex or otherwise curvilinear with a different radius of curvature.

[0010] A method of putting using the subject putter is also disclosed. With the method of putting disclosed herein, the feet of the player are generally parallel rather than transverse to the intended direction of travel of the ball. The method of the invention preferably comprises the steps of gripping the handgrip at the free end of the putter shaft with one hand; resting the putter head on the ground or other putting surface a few inches behind on the ball; sighting along the putter shaft in the desired ball-strike direction while aligning the putter head so that the cylindrical sidewall is centered on the ball and is generally perpendicular to the direction in which the player desires to strike the ball, taking into consideration any break or other elevational changes in the putting surface; raising or lowering the handle grip, without lifting the putter head off the supporting surface, to a position comfortable for the player, most preferably where the longitudinal axis through the handle makes an acute angle with the putting surface ranging from about 30 to about 85 degrees; and thereafter moving the handle forward, simultaneously applying force along the handle to the putter head, causing the putter head to slide forwardly across the putting surface toward the ball, striking the ball in the intended direction of travel.

[0011] Use of the putter disclosed herein enhances the likelihood of a successful putt by reducing alignment errors prior to the puff and by reducing the opportunities for miss-striking the ball during the swing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The apparatus and method of the invention are further described and explained in relation to the following drawings, wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the putter of the invention, showing how the major longitudinal axis through the shaft is slanted rearwardly from a vertical axis extending perpendicularly through the center of the cylindrical putter head;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the putter of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a side detail view, partially broken away and partially in cross-section, showing an embodiment of the subject putter in which the cylindrical putter head comprises one material for the core, another material for the ground-contact surface, and another material for the ball-strike surface;

[0016]FIG. 3a is a side detail view, partially broken away and partially in cross-section, showing an embodiment of the subject putter in which the cylindrical putter head comprises one material for the core and another material for the surface;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a front detail view, partially broken away and partially in cross-section, showing the base of the shaft attached to a cylindrical head in which the core and surface are unitarily made of a single material;

[0018]FIG. 4a is a front detail view, partially broken away and partially in cross-section, showing the base of the shaft attached to a cylindrical head in which the core is hollow;

[0019]FIG. 5. is a side elevation view depicting the major longitudinal axis of the shaft, when extended, as being perpendicular to the center of the putter head of the invention, and showing a preferred positional relationship between the center of the putter head and the center of a conventional golf ball;

[0020]FIG. 5a is a side elevation view as in FIG. 5 but with the shaft axis intersecting the perpendicular axis about ⅔ of the distance between the proximal surface and the center of the putter head;

[0021]FIG. 5b is a side elevation view as in FIG. 5 but with the shaft axis intersecting the perpendicular axis at or near the distal surface of the putter head;

[0022]FIG. 6 is a simplified diagrammatic view showing a player aligning the subject putter to put a golf ball toward a cup disposed in the putting surface;

[0023]FIG. 6a is a simplified diagrammatic view showing a player advancing the subject putter to strike a golf ball toward a cup disposed in the putting surface;

[0024]FIG. 6b is a simplified diagrammatic view showing a player following through the putting motion after putting a golf ball toward a cup disposed in the putting surface; and

[0025]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view depicting a preferred set-up position for the player, putter and golf ball relative to each other and to the hole using the putter and method disclosed herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, ground-contact putter 10 of the invention preferably comprises shaft 12 having substantially transverse, cylindrical putter head 14 at one end and handgrip 16 at the other. Putter head 14 desirably further comprises substantially cylindrical sidewall 82 and end walls 84, 86. Putter head 14 can be unitarily constructed from a single block of metal, such as aluminum, steel or alloys, or cast or molded from other metals, composite or polymeric materials, or from a combination thereof, by any suitable manufacturing technique. Whether made of one or several materials, putter head 14 preferably comprises a ground-contact surface 28 and a ball-strike surface 30. Ground-contact surface 28 is desirably relatively hard, slick and corrosion resistant, whereas ball-strike surface 30 may have slight resilience, surface texturing, or other features not present in ground-contact surface 28. Ground-contact surface 28 should also be configured so as not to damage the underlying putting surface. By making putter head 14 so that ground-contact and ball-strike surfaces 28, 30, respectively, extend arcuately around at least a portion of the circumference of the cylinder, it is possible to accommodate players of different heights and different preferences regarding the angle at which the putter shaft is held relative to the underlying putting surface when putting. Although putter head 14 is preferably cylindrical, it can also embody surface sections that are not cylindrical without departing from the scope of the invention, provided that at least the ground-contact and ball-strike surface sections are convex arcuate sections as would otherwise subtend a cylindrical surface.

[0027] Applicant has learned that striking a golf ball by the application of a horizontally directed force to a point about {fraction (1/8)} inch above the center of gravity of the ball will cause the ball to roll smoothly and evenly across a smooth putting surface. For this reason, the outside diameter of putter head 14 is desirably slightly greater than the diameter of a golf ball. The outside diameter of conventional golf balls varies according to the type and manufacturer but is believed to be less than two inches. Therefore, according to one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the outside diameter of the putter head 14 is about two inches, and most preferably 1{fraction (15/16)} inches. The width of putter head 14 between end walls 84, 86 is desirably large enough to stabilize the forward motion of the putter head while it is being pushed toward the ball during the putting motion and also large enough to have a ball-strike surface comparable to those of other putters. The area of ground-contact surface 28 that frictionally engages the underlying putting surface should not, however, be so large as to cause excessive drag during putting. A width of about four inches is preferred for putter head 14. Although ground contact surface 28 is generally cylindrical, and therefore curved around the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, ground contact surface 28 is desirably substantially flat along its length to prevent putter head 14 from rocking to either side as putter head 14 is advanced toward the ball during the putting stroke.

[0028] Shaft 12 can be made of any conventional material and using methods known in the art of golf club construction. Shaft 12 can be made, for example, of metal, graphite or boron fibers, engineered polymers or even wood. The lower end of shaft 12 can be inserted directly into putter head 14 in either perpendicular or a rearwardly slanting angular alignment, or, although not shown, can be attached in a straight or similar angular relationship using a hosel. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 1, major longitudinal axis 18 through shaft 12 slants rearwardly at an angle φ relative to vertical axis 20 (axis 20 being perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis through transverse cylindrical putter head 14 and intersecting the longitudinal axis at the midpoint of putter head 14) that can range up to about 20 degrees, and is most preferably at least about 10 degrees. The angular relationship of the putter shaft to the putter head is further discussed in relation to FIG. 5 below.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3, 3a, 4 and 4 a, the putter shaft is preferably attached to the putter head by threads, but can also be attached using welds, pins, epoxy or other similarly effective means. In FIG. 3, for example, the preferred attachment is by means of threads that engage cooperating threads in bore 24 of putter head 14. Various techniques and commercially available products, e.g., tack welds, Loctite® adhesive, or other similarly effective means, can be used to prevent putter head 14 from accidentally loosening or becoming disengaged from putter shaft 12 during use.

[0030] Various preferred structural configurations for the putter head of the invention are further described and explained in relation to FIGS. 3, 3a, 4 and 4 a of the drawings. While these configurations illustrate various embodiments of the invention, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate upon reading this disclosure that the inventive aspects of the subject putter can also be similarly applied in putter heads having somewhat different configurations, provided that the ground-contact surface section and the ball-strike surface section of the putter head are substantially cylindrical and that the shaft is attached to the putter head in such manner that the putter head can be pushed smoothly and with little frictional resistance across the putting surface to contact the golf ball at a point slightly above its center of gravity.

[0031] In FIGS. 3 and 3a, putter heads 14, 36 are rotated to one of an infinite number of preferred address positions, whereby shafts 12, 34, respectively, will form an acute angle with an underlying putting surface as described in greater detail below. Referring to FIG. 3, putter head 14 is shown as having a solid core 22 with two separate surface sections 28, 30 inlaid opposite each other to form the ground-contact and ball-strike surfaces, respectively. Alternatively, as shown in putter head 36 depicted in FIG. 3a, core 38 can be surrounded or coated entirely by a single surface material 40 that is different from the material used to make the core. In FIG. 4, shaft 42 is attached to a solid metal head 44 having a substantially cylindrical surface 45. In FIG. 4a, shaft 46 is attached to a thickened wall section of a putter head 48 having an internal void 50. In each of FIGS. 3, 3a, 4 and 4 a, the lower end of the shaft extends into and is held in a fixed positional relationship to the putter head so that when viewed from the front or back, as illustrated for example in FIG. 4a, the shaft is substantially perpendicular to the midpoint 51 of central longitudinal axis 49 through the putter head, and any angular deviation of the major longitudinal axis of the shaft away from perpendicular occurs in the same plane as the line of sight between the shaft, the center of the putter head and the ball.

[0032]FIG. 5 depicts a putter 90 with shaft 52 partially broken away and putter head 54 contacting golf ball 56. Both putter head 54 and golf ball 56 rest on underlying putting surface 58. Shaft axis 76 is perpendicular to the cylindrical surface of putter head 54 at point 110 and, if extended, passes through midpoint 112 of the central longitudinal axis through putter head 54. The outside diameter of putter head 54 is slightly greater than the outside diameter of golf ball 56 and the elevation 55 of the center of gravity of putter head 54 is preferably a distance D above the elevation 57 of the center of gravity of golf ball 56. Although angle Θ between the major longitudinal axis 76 of shaft 52 and underlying putting surface 58 can be any acute angle less than about 90 degrees, angles ranging from about 30 to about 85 degrees, and most preferably from about 30 to about 45 degrees, can be most comfortable and effective for the player. Where angle Θ is greater than about 45 degrees, the vertical component of force applied by the user through the handgrip of the shaft will be greater than the horizontal component, contributing to frictional drag between the underside of the putter head and the putting surface during the putting motion. Where angle Θ is less than about 30 degrees, the user may have to squat or stoop to an excessive extent in order to advance the puffer head toward the ball.

[0033] It is recognized that, depending upon the internal configuration of putter head 54 (including that portion of the shaft that is disposed inside the head), the center of gravity of the putter head can be either higher or lower than the center of the circle defined by a cross-section taken through the cylindrical sidewall for any given angular position of shaft 52 relative to underlying putting surface 58. In general, it is preferred that both center point 112 of the cylinder defined by the sidewall of the putter head and the center of gravity of the putter head be at elevations that are slightly higher than the elevation of the center of golf ball 56.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 5a, longitudinal axis 76 through shaft 52, when extended, preferably intersects perpendicular axis 77 at a point 114 that is approximately two-thirds of the distance along axis 77 between point 110 and midpoint 112 of putter head 54. The angle φ between axis 76 and axis 77 can be zero, but can range up to 20 degrees or more and is preferably at least about 10 degrees. Angle Θ can vary as described above in relation to FIG. 5. Point 114 is preferably also the bottom center of the bore (seen, for example, as bore 24 in FIG. 3) into which the putter shaft is inserted, and is adjacent to the bottom center of the putter shaft.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 5b, longitudinal axis 76 through shaft 52, when extended, preferably intersects perpendicular axis 77 at a point 114 that is distal and diametrically opposite to proximal point 110 on the surface of putter head 54. It is understood that the position of point 114 relative to putting surface 58 can vary according to angle φ and angle Θ, as described above in relation to FIG. 5.

[0036] The method of the invention is further described and explained in relation to FIGS. 6, 6a, 6 b and 7. Referring to FIG. 6, player 92 preferably grasps the handgrip of shaft 68 of ground-contact putter 60 of the invention in one hand. Whether or not the major longitudinal axis through the handle is slanted rearwardly away from perpendicular alignment with the putter head, the putter should be able to sight along the putter shaft to assist in lining up the putt in a desired ball-strike direction. The feet of player 92 are preferably both positioned behind and slightly to the side of the line between putter head 70 and ball 62. After reading the topography of putting surface 64 and determining the desired ball-strike direction and line of travel of ball 62 to hole 66, player 92 preferably positions putter head 70 so that, when putter 60 is moved forwardly toward ball 62, the line of travel will be the same as the desired ball-strike direction and the cylindrical sidewall of putter head 70 will be centered on ball 62.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 6a, putter 60 is pushed forwardly along line 72 by player 92, with putter head 70 maintaining constant contact with underlying putting surface 64, so that putter head 70 contacts ball 62, causing ball 62 to move across putting surface, hopefully toward hole 66. During the putting motion, player 92 can optionally step forward, moving foot 108 slightly ahead of foot 106 if desired, although this is not recommended as it can introduce another angular variation into the putting stroke. As with conventional putters and putting methods, the force applied to the ball through the putter head will affect both the pace and trajectory of the putt. Referring to FIG. 6b, player 92 will desirably continue to follow through after putter head 70 strikes ball 62, as indicated by lines 72 and 74. Putter head 70 continues to maintain contact with underlying putting surface 64 during the follow-through.

[0038] A preferred set-up position for aligning putter shaft 68 and putter head 70 with golf ball 62 and hole 66, where putting surface 64 has no break and the desired line of travel 100 is a straight line, is depicted in FIG. 7. Feet 106, 108 of the player are most preferably placed side-by-side behind imaginary transverse line 104, which is a short distance behind imaginary transverse line 102 and a little to the side of line 100 between ball 62 and hole 66 so that the player does not straddle the putting line. By laying putter 60 on the ground, the player can easily align the putt. Once the putt is aligned, the player simply needs to grasp the handgrip of putter shaft 68 with the nearer hand and, without lifting putter head 70 off the ground, rotate shaft 68 upwardly to a comfortable height at which to commence the putting stroke as described in relation to FIGS. 6a, 6 b above.

[0039] Other alterations and modifications of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure, and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventor is legally entitled. 

1. A ground-contact putter comprising an elongated shaft having first and second ends, the first end having a handgrip and the second end being attached to a substantially cylindrical head oriented substantially transversely to the shaft, the head having a center.
 2. The putter of claim 1 wherein the head further comprises a core, two ends and a substantially cylindrical sidewall.
 3. The putter of claim 2 wherein the sidewall further comprises a ground-contact section and a ball-strike section.
 4. The putter of claim 2 wherein the core and sidewall are made of different materials.
 5. The putter of claim 3 wherein the ground-contact section and the ball-strike section are made of different materials.
 6. The putter of claim 1 wherein the shaft and the putter head each comprise a major longitudinal axis.
 7. The putter of claim 6 wherein the major longitudinal axis of the shaft is perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the head and the two axes intersect in the center of the head.
 8. The putter of claim 6 wherein the major longitudinal axis through the shaft slants up to about 20 degrees rearwardly from an axis perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the head and passing through the center of the head, and wherein the shaft axis and the perpendicular axis intersect at a point other than the center of the head.
 9. The putter of claim 8 wherein the major longitudinal axis of the shaft slants about 10 degrees rearwardly from the axis perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the head.
 10. The putter of claim 8 wherein the shaft axis and perpendicular axis intersect at a point on a distal surface of the putter head.
 11. The putter of claim 1 wherein the head is made of metal.
 12. The putter of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the core is hollow.
 13. The putter of claim 2 wherein the head comprises a polymeric material.
 14. The putter of claim 3 wherein the ground-contact section comprises a polymeric material.
 15. The putter of claim 1 wherein the putter head has a cross-sectional diameter that is slightly greater than the diameter of a golf ball.
 16. The putter of claim 1 wherein the putter head, when resting on a level putting surface, has a center of gravity disposed at an elevation about {fraction (1/8)} inch higher than the center of gravity of a golf ball resting on the same putting surface.
 17. The putter of claim 1 wherein the central longitudinal axis through the putter head, when the head is resting on a level putting surface, is disposed at an elevation about {fraction (1/8)} inch higher than the center of a golf ball resting on the same putting surface.
 18. The putter of claim 3 wherein, when the putter head is rotated to a position where the ball-strike surface faces forwardly and the ground-contact surface faces downwardly, an angle ranging between about 30 and about 85 degrees is formed between the shaft and a substantially level putting surface underlying the putter head.
 19. The putter of claim 3 wherein the angle formed between the shaft and the support surface ranges between about 30 and about 45 degrees.
 20. A method for use by a player in putting a golf ball from a resting position on a putting surface toward a cup position in the same putting surface using a putter comprising a shaft having a handgrip at one end and a transverse cylindrical putting head at the other end, the putting head having a generally cylindrical sidewall, the method comprising the steps of: gripping the handgrip with one hand; resting the putter head on the putting surface a few inches behind the golf ball with the cylindrical sidewall facing the golf ball; sighting along the putter shaft in an intended ball-strike direction while aligning the putter head so that the cylindrical sidewall is centered on the ball and is generally perpendicular to the intended ball-strike direction; without lifting the putter head off the putting surface, adjusting the elevation angle between the shaft and the putting surface to an angle between about 30 and about 85 degrees; and thereafter moving the handle forward, simultaneously applying force down the shaft to the putter head, causing the putter head to slide forwardly across the putting surface toward the ball, striking the ball in the desired ball-strike direction. 